The Druid's Challenge 2024

A broad track that takes the higher ground, the Ridgeway is a unique route that passes through the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), often quite a distance from any towns or villages, giving a real sense of peace and seclusion. You'll experience open views of the rolling chalk downland, peppered with ancient monuments including Stone Age long barrows, Bronze Age round barrows, Iron Age forts and white horse chalk figures.
Note: This year we will not be marking the route. Instead, you'll be following the Ridgeway markings until you come off the Ridgeway, with glow sticks out for the last 6 miles on day 1.

We recommend you familiarise yourself with the route before the start of the race and download the GPX file or OS Maps route onto your watch or phone.

As with all of our events, everything is taken care of at the Druid's Challenge so you can focus on the experience!
Overnight accommodation, evening meals, showers, breakfast, food and drink at checkpoints, free parking (for those booking a coach seat), and even inspiring guest speakers in the evening are all included.

• Prizes and trophies for overall and category winners
• Toilets, showers and changing facilities
• Checkpoint food and water at regular intervals
• Inspiring guest speakers in the evening
• A quality finishers T-shirt and medal
• Action photos en-route, free to download

The winners, runners up and age group winners will receive fantastic prizes or vouchers from our sponsors.

The multi day event prize for 1st male and 1st female overall winners is FREE entry to the same event next year!

Schedule
08:00 Registration open
09:30 Walkers briefing
10:00 Walkers start
10:30 Main group briefing
11:00 Main group start
11:30 Fast briefing
12:00 Fast start
18:00 Evening meal

START
LU7 9EB
///pound.friends.vacancies

END
OX49 5BZ
///disarmed.rider.mirroring

CHECKPOINTS
#1 St Marys Church, Wendover
HP22 6NL
///scarecrow.rezoning.making
Grid ref: SP872074

#2 Whiteleaf Car Park Peters Lane
HP27 0LH
///plotting.lingering.clutter
Grid ref: SP823036

#3 Ridgeway nr station Chinnor
OX39 4BA
///handyman.sharpened.upcoming
Grid ref: SP760002

TOILETS
Wendover Library Car Park
HP22 6DU
///choirs.skirt.hotspots

Schedule
06:00 Breakfast
06:30 Registration open
06:45 Walkers briefing
07:00 Walkers start
07:45 Main group briefing
08:00 Main group start
08:45 Fast briefing
09:00 Fast start
18:00 Evening meal

START
OX49 5BZ
///disarmed.rider.mirroring

END
OX11 0UE
///staining.groom.workloads

CHECKPOINTS
#1 Trinity Church, Nuffield
RG9 5SN
///chess.teach.shrimp
Grid ref: SU667873

#2 Riverside, South Stoke
RG8 0JS
///shameless.plankton.proves
Grid ref: SU593837

#3 Track off Churn Rd, Compton
RG20 6PP
///ventures.battle.grounding
Grid ref: SU509819

TOILETS
Goring High Street Wheel Orchard Car Park
RG8 9AT
///clearcut.rosette.gliders

Schedule
06:00 Breakfast
06:30 Registration open
06:45 Walkers briefing
07:00 Walkers start
07:45 Main group briefing
08:00 Main group start
08:45 Fast briefing
09:00 Fast start

START
OX11 0RW
///firewall.targeted.encourage

END
SN4 0QJ
///orders.shaky.nodded

CHECKPOINTS
#1 B4001/Ridgeway crossing
OX12 9XF
///shows.lifeboats.torched
Grid ref: SU344851

#2 Car Park Nr Hinton Parva
SN4 0DR
///define.nightlife.duty
Grid ref: SU233814

#3 A436 crossing Ogbourne St George
SN8 1SG
///spots.crash.able
Grid ref: SU198733

TOILETS
Barbury Castle
SN4 0QZ
///stacks.bother.shins

Finish
SN4 0QJ
///orders.shaky.nodded

The only compulsory kit is a fully charged mobile phone and a minimum 500ml of water, but it's worth taking a look at our recommended kit list.

Other equipment may be made compulsory by the race director depending on the weather.

Please register and pick up your timing chip from:

Full event/day 1 only entrants

8:00am on Friday
Tring Rugby Club, Cow Ln, Hertfordshire, Tring HP23 5NS
///subsets.appetite.anguished
Grid ref: SP938117
Day 2 only entrants

06:30 on Saturday
Lord Williams's Lower School (day 1 overnight location).

Day 3 only entrants

06:30 on Sunday
Didcot Leisure Centre (day 2 overnight location)

All shuttles listed below, except coach transfer, are free.
Any other transfers at the competitors' expense via local taxi companies.

Shuttles/transfers provided

Day 1
To start from...
Tring Train Station, from 07:30
Alexandra House Hotel, Wroughton SN4 0QJ. Coach transfer departing at 07:00 (cars can be left at the hotel) - Pre book and pay only.

From finish to...
The overnight accommodation (Lord Williams's Lower School)
The Mercure Hotel, Aston Lambert, OX49 5SQ

Day 2
To start from...
The overnight accommodation (Lord Williams's Lower School)
The Mercure Hotel, Aston Lambert, OX49 5SQ

From finish to...
The overnight accommodation (Didcot Leisure Centre)
Premier Inn, Milton Interchange, Didcot, OX14 4TX

Day 3
To start from...
The overnight accommodation (Didcot Leisure Centre)
Premier Inn, Milton Interchange, Didcot, OX14 4TX

From finish to...
Swindon Train Station

You'll stay at Lord Williams's Lower School in Thame (OX9 3NW) on the first night and Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8AY on the second night, with sleeping accommodation in a large hall.

Don't fancy sharing accommodation during the event? We'll be running minibus shuttles to and from three local hotels during the event

MID-EVENT HOTELS
Thursday night - Alexandra House, Swindon (for those taking the coach to the start on Friday morning), or the Premier Inn, Tring close to the start

Friday night - The Mercure Hotel, Watlington

Saturday night - Premier Inn Milton Interchange, Abingdon

Please note: these are the only hotels our minibus will run to. If you're planning to stay somewhere else, please make sure you've booked taxis to and from the event.

AFTER THE EVENT
We have arranged discounted rooms for anyone who wants to rest up and stay overnight near the finish at the Principle-Hayley Hotel. Single occupancy B&B is £55; doubles or twins B&B are £65